Ainslie calls it right for the first rock in the chair

The professional sailors in Cowes Week go about their business with a purpose, none more so than Ben Ainslie and his crew aboard Robert Condon's Swan 70 Serano, known as Volvo for Life this week - with the sole exception of one amateur, myself, who had joined them for the day's race.

Ainslie would steer, Rodney Pattisson, a double gold and silver Olympic medallist, would help with the mainsail trim and a bronze medallist Ossie Stewart was the tactician.

The 70-foot yacht motored out to the starting line just to the east of Lee-on-Solent for the 23.7-mile course. We hit the line with the gun and were in clear air to windward of the majority. Being the biggest boat, we were soon leading but we missed a wind change and Nick Hewson's Team Tonic, a Farr 52, headed us before the first mark. It was time for action as we went round the buoy off Ryde.

Ben called for a "gybe set" where the spinnaker is hoisted as the boat is turned with the wind aft. The sail filled as we pursued Team Tonic. The wind veered and carrying the spinnaker became difficult as we neared the East Bramble buoy.

Volvo for Life held her spinnaker longer than Team Tonic and went past to windward before the turn. We pulled away and after three more legs we had a three-minute lead.

"That's not enough," said Ossie, referring to the handicap, but after we crossed the line more than five minutes passed before Team Tonic finished. "That is enough," Ben said.

We had won the Rocking Chair Trophy and first rights to the one in the bar of the Island Sailing Club.